Improvement in gutta-percha stereotype compositions



in hot water, and when suliicientl y soft I work LEONARDO \VESTBROOK, OF EEYV YORK, N. Y.

lMPROVEMENT IN GUTTA-PERCHA STEREOTYP'E COMPOSITIONS.

Specification forming putt-of Letters Patent- No. 9,810, dated July 19, 13.73.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it know u that'I, LEONARDO Wnsrnnoon, of the city, county, and State ot' New-York,

a smooth and level bed-plate and platen, be tween which and on each side of the form to be taken are placed two bearers of solid matehave invented a new and improved composirial one-eighth otan inch thicker than the type tion of matter as a substitute for type-metal or form. Theplatenofthepressisthenbrought forthepurposeot'stereotyping andtaking'casts i down until it presses firmly on the bearers, from type, cuts, engravings, and for embosswhere it is retained until the composition being and other purposes, being an iinprovccomes cool and hardened,which requires from meat on Josiah Warrens invention and pro: five to ten minutes, when it is then taken out sees for similar purposes; and I do hereby deof the press and the composition is removed ciarethat the following is a (nil and exact from the form, and it is then an exact matrix description of the same. or mold of the form on which it has been im- Article first. I first take shellac and plunn pressed. I then place this matrix or mold on bago or graphite, of each three parts, to which a block of mahogany or other hard wood ot the I add one part of asphaltum, melt and mix desired length and breadth and a quarter of teen parts gutta' percha in its crude state and out it into tine shreds with a. cutting-machine constructed for the purpose. 1 then put the gutta percha and the above-described compound into a. grinding apparatus constructed preparing another portion of my. composition in the same manner as described above I place it on the mold, put it in the press, and bring the platen down to the bearers, as before, and retain it there until it is cool, when it is tekeii for the purpose. I then make a solution of snll out, the mold removed, and the plate, being an phate of copper in water in the proportions of exact facsimile of the original, is ready for one pound of sulphate of copper to one gallon printing.

Of Water. This solution, sufficientin quantity 1 Article second. Hylcgraphing and the manto cover the mass, is then heated to about 212 her of taking impressions therefrom for the them thoroughlytogether; I then take thiran inch thinner than the bearers; and after 1.

Fahrenheit and passedthrough a tube or siproduction of plates for printing music, drawphon into the mass in a regniar stream while the grinding apparatus is set in motion and the whole passed through it, after which the new compound thus forxn d is passed between iron rollers that are immersed in the heated solntion of sulphate of copper and water in the thickness required, and with suitable and pesame proportions as described above, and it is cnliarshaped instruments I design, engraye, rolled out into thin sheets, and then, it found or impress the object or subject desired, ihis free from foreign substances, it is ready for use. being done, t take an impression with my com- The object of grinding and working the compound herein specified, from the vblock in the pound in the above-described solution is to defollowing manner: First, l. confine the block stroy its elasticity and ductility and to render in a chase one-eighth of an inch higher than it suificiently and permanently hard and cohethe surface or level of the block. I then take sire when formed into plates,casts, dies, molds, a. sufiicicnt quantity of my compound to form or forms to withstand the necessary pressure it plate in its soft or yielding state, which .i

iugs, maps, bai1h-notes,tine, close, clouded, or shaded work, either as part of a picture or embossing or molding. 3. take a piece'ot box or force requisite to produce the desired result. mold in proper form. t then rub on the part The new compound thus prepared I immerse black, or graphite, which destroys its adhesive itinto the desired shape with my hands, being qualities. it is then laid upon the block and careful to keep asmooth and polished surface put to press, the platen of which, being per on one side by means of rubbing over it-finelyi'ectly level, is brought to bear upon the chase. powderedivory-black or graphite. Ithen place i By this process I produce a facsimile of the the polished surface on the type, engraving, l design, which may be printed from as soon" as or other form from which a ,tYac-simile is desired 1 blocked in the manner described in article first. Article third, When the RlBOVQSPGGli'lMl cointo be taken. I then put them into a press with tinted ground, and upper and lower dies for.

or other finely-grained wood of the size and that will come in contact with the wood, ivory stance, I secure the die on the bed-plate of quantity of my composi tion in its yielding state,

- a sharper impression, is morednrahle, and requires less time for its adjustment than by any J other process or materialsnow in use.

pounds; to he used for embossing paper, foil, silk,oranyotheryieldingsahsiianccormaterial, eltherfrom diesin wood, steel, or any othersuhan emhossingprcss. I then take a sufitioient and after moldingit with thehands toits proper form and applying the ivory-blackor graphite for the purpose as specified in article second, I place it against the lick-up, which is attached to the plunger, by the downward moveme'nt of which the composition is brought in contact and is compressed into the die. It remains in this position until cool, when the plunger may be raised, and the composition will adhere to the lick-up. 1 am now furnished with an upper force or die for embossing which will give Article fourth. For the production ct'art icle's practical and useful from said com pou (i-"#511011 as jewelers cases, daguerreotype-rases, fancy boxes, or the duplicating of elaborate curred work'-=-this is my process of working my composition into any of the above-named articles.

Furnished with a model of the article to be duplicated, l procure a chase of proper dilnensions, in which 1' place a sutficient quantity of my compound in its yielding state, covering the surface of it, as before specified, with ivoryblack, graphite, or pearhpowder, On it I place my model. I then put it to press, the platen of which is brought. to bear upon the eha'se. When the compound has cooled I remove the model and the mold is formed, from which, by a second application of my composition, prepared in the samemanner, and the use of a proper shaped follower, I produce a fac-simiie of the model. In the second application it is necessary to use bearers of a proper thickness between the platform and platen of the press.

What I claim as my invention and improvement on the patent of Josiah 'Warren. dated :April25,1846, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- The compound herein described at shellac,

plnmhago or graphite, asphaltuni, and gutta-.'

pier-elm, treated by sulphate of copper and water, in the manner described, as a substitute for type-metal.

LnoNAuno wEsrBRooK.

Witnesses: c

ABM. L. Booster, '1. SMITH. 

